§ 23. Mr. WALLACEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his Department has purchased any land in or in the vicinity of Inverkeithing; and, if so, will he state the date or dates of purchase, the acreage bought, the price paid, and the proposed use of the land?
§ Sir J. CRAIGAs this is a somewhat lengthy answer, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ The following is the reply referred to:—
§ The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. On 20th March, 1919, the Admiralty purchased a property known as Naval Base Mansions, standing on roods of land. On 15th May, 1919, they bought about 90 acres of land with the various buildings standing thereon. Negotiations are in progress for the acquisition of further areas, including about 50 acres of land and about 117 acres of foreshore and fundus, and it would, therefore, be detrimental to the interests of the Crown to disclose the prices already paid. The establishment of a submarine base in Inverkeithing Bay was commenced in 1917, possession being taken of the necessary lands under the Defence of the Realm Act. After its commencement, advantage was taken of the dredging which had been performed to effect economies by erecting a pier there for shipping aeroplanes to the Fleet, instead of further east where originally contemplated, and where construction and protection would have been more expensive. After the Armistice it 2360 was decided to abandon the Submarine Scheme. It is necessary, however, to maintain the aeroplane pier and dredged channel thereto as part of the permanent organisation of the Fleet. In view of the fact that the Admiralty was committed to complete the purchase referred to above, and failure to do so would have involved large claims for compensation, and that a large sum had already been expended on dredging, it has been decided to complete the purchase and thus secure to the Admiralty the benefit of the expenditure already incurred.